After shocking losses last year, many districts said the win was crucial as budgets squeeze tighter with declining enrollment. With the economy is in worse shape than previous years only voters from three districts rejected the proposals: voters appeared to be rejecting at least one proposal in Paradise Valley Unified, Morristown elementary and Cave Creek Unified districts.

Paradise Valley Unified voters passed the K-3 budget override, but rejected the over $16 million maintenance and operations override.

The majority of district proposals were passed giving more than $340 million in funding. The largest single proposal was Deer Valley Unified School District which had $148 million in bonds. The majority of the major improvements would happen at the oldest schools, in the southern portion of the district.

In many cases, districts asked for the continuation of overrides and bonds that have been in place for years, which would keep tax rates unchanged. Tax rates are tied to the county's assessed valuation, which is usually lower than the market value of a home.

"I'm glad that the voters realized the importance of the override and my hats off to them for voting yes after voting no last year," said Richard Hopkins, Buckeye Elementary School District governing board president. "We all pay school taxes one way or the other and we all benefit from the education the children receive in the long run."

Last November, fewer than 20 percent of school districts won override and bond elections. The unprecedented event stunned many school-district administrations, who blamed it on a shaky economy.

For taxpayers, rejection of the override would mean their tax bills would shrink. First approved by voters in 1983, Tempe Union High School District's maintenance and operations override never failed until last year. The administration said after the override proposals failed, they hired an expert to analyze demographics and election data to find out what went wrong.

"We hired a consultant . . . because we were really surprised that it failed," said Diane Meulemans, Tempe Union High School Districts chief financial officer. "The consultant did a survey of voters in our district and put together some election information."

The district will be able to save programs such as marching band, sports and fine arts classes.

Although programs are safe but Tolleson Elementary School District is still facing cuts due to declining student enrollment.

"We'll be exploring the issue of declining enrollment. We won't have budgetary issues as much, but we're not in growth anymore as a district," said Superintendent Bill Christensen. "We still need to be in a very conservative mode right now."

Many districts are happy with voter decision, and credit informing people of school issues.

"Our voting population is changing and we had to do a much better job of educating people," said Shawn Watt, Litchfield Elementary School District governing board president. "People have seen the light and we're glad they allowed us to continue to do the great things were doing."

Phoenix: Headed for approval: Alhambra ($6.8 million budget override), Balsz ($1.5 million budget override), Deer Valley ($148 million bond), Isaac ($3.5 million budget override) and Murphy ($1.2 million budget override.) Paradise Valley Unified had approval for its K-3 budget override of $5.4 million but not its general budget override of $16.6 million.